July 23rd, 2023 at 08:33 am
Top Tourist Attractions in Capiz, Philippines
Because of Capiz’s close connection to Aswang legends, perhaps the country’s most well-known blood-sucking, fetus-eating, and occasionally shape-shifting folk monster, the Aswang is the first image that comes to mind when anyone in the Capiz-bound region is mentioned.
Whatever else the province has to offer tourists has long been overshadowed by the Aswang. Capiz, though, is much more than just its mythology. Aside from its natural marvels, it actively promotes sustainable tourist destinations that showcase its culture, history, and food while enhancing the standard of living in the neighborhood. The following list of things to do and places to see in Capiz is for you if you enjoy exploring new and off-the-beaten-path locations.
Roxas City Tourist Spots
The provincial capital of Capiz is Roxas City. The municipality, which was once known as Capiz before being renamed in honor of Manuel Roxas, the fourth president of the Republic of the Philippines, gave the province its name. Today, it acts as a point of entry to the province and its surrounding districts on Panay Island. Here are a few of Roxas City’s top sights.
Roxas City Museum (Ang Panublion)
The Roxas City Museum, also known as the Ang Panublion Museum, is located in the center of the city. The word panublion, which means “heritage” in Hiligaynon, is suitable because it refers to a collection of historical and cultural items, including those from the Ati and Panay Bukidnon, two of the province’s indigenous communities.
Collections illustrating the histories of Capiz and the entire Panay Island are also on display. Larger-than-life images of diverse scenes from the province are displayed in the exact middle of the room.
The museum building is regarded as a historical landmark. The circular water tank, which dates back to 1910, withstood World War II’s savagery and was afterward converted into a museum by the local administration in 1993.
Roxas City Plaza
The Roxas City Plaza, the city’s historic center, is only a block away from the Panublion Museum. The square, which is surrounded by several significant buildings, is a convenient location to see several of the city’s most notable landmarks: The Roxas City Plaza, the city’s historic center, is only a block away from the Panublion Museum. The square, which is surrounded by several significant buildings, is a convenient location to see several of the city’s most notable landmarks:
- A fountain at the center, which also serves as the Kilometer 0 mark
- Also, the Rizal Monument and the Capiz Provincial Capitol on the eastern side
- Next, a historic bridge on the southern side
- Additionally, the Roxas City Hall on the northern side
- Likewise, the Roxas Monument on the western side
- Lastly, the City Bandstand
Palina Greenbelt Ecopark & River Cruise
The Palina Greenbelt Ecopark is a riverfront agro-tourism destination that is five kilometers west of the city center and offers fresh seafood treats on one of the many floating open-hut homes.
The Palina River Development Association, Inc.-managed project has won numerous awards, including the Capiz Green Enterprise Award 2019 (Champion), the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, and the ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards 2016 (Grand Winner for Community-based Responsible Tourism Enterprise).
The Edge of Roxas City + Painted Anitos
The Edge is a relatively new hangout spot where one may enjoy nature, cuisine, and the arts. It is perched atop a cliff along the northern, er, edge of the Culasi peninsula. The promontory offers partygoers spectacular views of the surroundings as it faces the Sibuyan Sea.
It was initially constructed as a private slice of paradise for the owners’ family and friends, but gradually it was made available to everyone. It offers a snack bar where walk-in customers can get drinks, pica-pica (finger foods), and breakfast all day. You may also request the special menu, but make sure to place your order a day in advance of your intended visit.
Paseo del Rio & Casa de Mercado
Paseo del Rio (River Walk), which opened to the public in February 2022, was formerly a landfill but has now undergone rehabilitation and been restored into a picturesque promenade. This public recreational area, which stretches between San Roque Bridge and Jumbo Bridge (Juliano Alba Bridge), allows visitors to take a stroll along the Panay River.
The Paseo del Rio welcome sign is placed in front of Casa de Mercado, which is the area’s most noticeable building.
Roxas City Public Market
The Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center, Roxas City’s public market, and the biggest in Capiz is located directly across Paseo del Rio. It has been around for more than 40 years and is more commonly referred to as Lipunan Market. Typhoon Ursula damaged some of its components, prompting a recent renovation. The marker was erected by former mayor Teodoro Roxas Arcenas, for whom it was named.
Although Roxas metropolis is a contemporary metropolis, its more ancient roots can still be evident in and around the market, particularly at establishments that offer various things that are supposedly medicinal and are frequently utilized by albolaryo.
Baybay Beach
Due to its proximity to the city center, the seven-kilometer Baybay Beach, which stretches along Capiz’s northern border, is a well-liked spot for locals to unwind. It is also known as La Playa de Roxas and offers picturesque beachside views of the Sibuyan Sea, making it a popular gathering area and venue for street food in Roxas.
It’s a great location for numerous activities like swimming, picnics, playing beach sports, jogging, strolling, and viewing the dawn and sunset thanks to the seemingly infinite expanse of fine, dark gray sand. From here, one can see Mantalinga Island and Olotayan Island, two islands bordering the city.
Tabai Coffee + Test Kitchen
It is a picturesque cafe during the day, ideal for meet-and-chill or work-and-chill scenarios. However, it transforms into a cocktail lounge at night, where you can catch up with friends over a drink, especially one that contains alcohol. You won’t be able to see the sunset from Baybay because it faces north, but you can still take in the glow as the day gives way to night by sipping on its famous Tabai sunset cocktail. Tabai also organizes conferences, intimate gatherings, and events (including musical and artistic ones).
The Ruins of Alcatraz
The Ruins of Alcatraz, which are invading a promontory that overlooks the coast and the sea, dominate Baybay Beach’s western end. The intimidating wall satisfies Attack on Titans fans because it is reminiscent of the show’s three enormous walls (Sina, Rose, and Maria).
It also kind of brings to mind a lot of other TV shows and movies. Everything has a tall wall. Any medieval fantasy, such as The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, or The Maze Runner. Allow your creativity to soar!
Mantalinga Island
The island is covered in vegetation and is difficult to dock at because it is perched on a rocky outcrop. Previously, it was used as a racetrack for kayaking and sailing competitions. The seas around the island are home to a variety of marine life and are decorated with vibrant corals, making it the ideal location for scuba divers.
Olotayan Island
The 53-hectare Olotayan Island, according to folklore, is made up of the head and the belly of the fabled giant. The single island barangay of Roxas City is Olotayan, which is located a few kilometers off the shore of Baybay Beach. While most of the towns are concentrated on the eastern and northern coastlines, a sizable portion of the area is vegetated.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Shrine
One of the tallest and biggest representations of Jesus in the Philippines, the 132-foot-tall Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ statue stands atop Tumandok Hill in Barangay Dinginan. (Christ’s figure is 102 feet tall; the foundation is 30 feet.)
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Development Corporation (SHJDC) and Pueblo de Panay, two of the province’s largest employers, are projects of the Ong family, who also owns and manages the shrine.
Homegrown Cafés
For coffee breaks and gatherings, Roxas City’s relaxed atmosphere is ideal. Charming locally owned cafés are rising in popularity. Each has unique expertise and offers dishes with both regional and global characteristics.
Just a few hundred meters west of the Kilometer 0 Fountain at the City Plaza and in the center of Roxas, Luna Coffee is one of the hottest places to get your caffeine fix. It’s challenging to identify the theme it’s aiming for at first glance. It has a modern industrial aesthetic, yet ledges are decorated with memorabilia from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Korean and Filipino slogans are neon-lit on the walls.
Café Terraza
As the only picturesque hilltop dining establishment in Roxas City, Cafe Terraza is perched on a hill within the sloping Circulo Convention Center complex. The cafe is situated on a sizable patio where locals and guests may enjoy the lovely views of the surrounding countryside and relaxed atmosphere. It serves Filipino and foreign cuisine and includes 15 native cabanas as well as a pavilion.
Banica Dried Fish Center
Over two kilometers east of the city’s core, in Barangay Banica, is the Banica Dried Fish core. It is a well-known wholesale market for dried fish and a pasalubong destination. The entire stretch of street is lined with merchants selling various varieties of dried fish. The Banica Bridge and the Shell Gas Station are your landmarks if you intend to purchase pasalubong here.
Capiz Provincial Park
The Capiz Provincial Park, a refuge of greenery, offers a brief respite from the bustle of the metropolis. Its focal point is a tiny artificial rocky fountain encircled by a tiny lagoon. The park also functions as an arboretum for several Philippine native trees.
Culajao Mangrove Eco Park
The Roxas City Government, in collaboration with the Katunggan Sa Culajao Salbaron Association (KACUSA), Inc., and the PEW Fellows Program in Marine Conservation, launched this mangrove reforestation project in June 2008. This educates both residents and visitors about the advantages of mangroves, the ecosystem, and the environment as a whole.
Panay Tourist Spots
Although Capiz’s formal capital is Roxas City, the municipality of Panay is designated as the province’s heritage capital. In reality, behind Cebu, it is the second-oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines. It enlists Capiz trip itineraries and frequently turns into one of their highlights. Here are a few of Panay’s must-see sights.
Panay Church
The old Panay Church has existed since the late 17th century. However, the current building is from the late 19th century. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines named it a National Historical Landmark in 1997. The National Museum later named it a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.
Coral stones were used to construct the Neo-Classical Baroque building, which had walls that were three meters thick. Other features include the original wooden roof truss, antiquities, museum, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, and the old Spanish well.
Balay ni Nanay Lording
Balay ni Nanay Lording is one of the heritage homes in Capiz. It is situated along Calle Revolucion, the second-oldest street in the nation, in Barangay Poblacion Ilawod.
Istorya Forest Garden
Istorya Forest Garden defies easy categorization. It is an outdoor bar that serves a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, including whiskey, wine, sangria, and cocktails. Also, it is a restaurant that served us unquestionably the best lunch we had while in Capiz. It is a serene, romantic retreat set beneath a canopy of tall trees, and lit up by rows of lanterns.
Other Capiz Attractions
Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village
The Capiz Ecology and Cultural Village (big green area) seeks to support agrotourism and a community-based sustainable lifestyle. The park is home to a variety of indigenous trees and flora. It also serves as a training ground for organic farming and forestry.
Side trip to Gigantes Islands, Iloilo
The Gigantes Islands, a collection of islands off the northeastern coast of Iloilo, are shrouded in myths, stories, and folklore. The islands earned their names as they represent the dispersed remains of a prehistoric monster.
Roxas City & Capiz Tours
Going around Roxas City and the rest of Capiz independently using public transit is feasible. Capiz is one of those places you’ll want to enjoy more as you explore further. Since many of the attractions are historical and cultural, they emphasize experience over aesthetics.
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